was demoted to “special correspondent” status by KCNC’s general manager Walt DeHaven, who said he wanted to trade a “good team” for “a great one.” Good luck with that. The response so far suggests Molly is much missed.

Leigh is young, smart, good-looking and a capable reader of the news. But was the shuffle worth it to viewers, who tend to be resistant to change? What is your initial take on Karen Leigh?

Chris Matthews, in a closeup on MSNBC during coverage of tonight’s Pennsylvania primary, talking about Hillary Clinton’s win and her precedent-setting digs at her opponent, sneezed mid-sentence. Twice.

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“It’s so much fun to be on television with this guy,” Brian Williams responded. “We’re seeing precedents right and left.”

That bodily function may have been the most refreshing, honest and unrehearsed moment of the night. The rest was prognostication, spin and rehash as usual.

Vamping while awaiting speeches from the candidates, the NBC foursome (Matthews, Keith Olbermann, Williams and Tim Russert) chewed on the possibility that the Democrats may not unite before the convention. Russert offered elaborate hypothetical scenarios–a walkout of Obama delegates included–for “what Denver might look like.”

Over on CNN, Campbell Brown was all about how to “heal these wounds.”

Credit Paul Begala with reaching back to the 1600s to uote Andrew Marvell, “had we but world enough and time.” His contention is that Clinton and Obama have plenty. The party will patch it up, he said.

But the pundits are salivating over the idea that the patch-up won’t happen soon.

Wednesday night’s debate between the Democratic presidential candidates broadcast on ABC was by far the highest-rated debate of the campaign season.

Some 10.7 million viewers tuned in the debate moderated by Charles Gibson and George Stephanopolous, giving ABC the best ratings its had in months and beating the previous debate viewing record by double digits. In a few markets, it even beat “American Idol” on Fox. Airing opposite “American Idol” and an original episode of CBS’ “Criminal Minds,” the debate retained 96% of its audience.

They started out doing a round of “Kumbaya” on behalf of the Democratic Party, then veered into blaming the game of politics. In fact, the real blame should be placed on the media.

Wednesday’s televised candidates’ debate from Philadelphia, tape delayed in Denver, got around to issues eventually. But the first round– devoted to pettiness and word obsession and gaffes– was more revealing. Before they could address policy, the Democratic candidates haggled over the recent media dust-up over Barack Obama’s “bitter” quote. Obama objected that Hillary Clinton’s campaign “takes words and beats them to death” for days…”this is what passes for our politics.”

Substitute “media” and you’ve got a better point of blame. With or without encouragement from the Clintons, the media is gaffe-obsessed.

As James Carville might have said, it’s the 24/7 cable news cycle, stupid.

The media has driven the obsession with gaffes, an obsession that cuts against all three presidential candidates. With endless hours to fill, cable in particular fans the flames, keeps petty spats alive and refuses to let go when there’s a hint of controversy.

Blame ABC and Charlie Gibson for running a taped question from a Pennsylvania voter of whether or not Obama loves the American flag. This impugning of the candidate’s patriotism is a red herring fueled by the network running the debate. Even as it was broadcast, you could feel a national sense of dread over how many hours will be devoted to flag pins in the weeks ahead.

Are you now or have you ever been a member of a non-flag-pin wearing party?

The second-annual charity fundraiser, “Idol Gives Back,” dominated the Wednesday overnight ratings. No word yet on how much was donated; last year’s telethon raised $76 million.

This year’s “Idol Gives Back” is raising funds to benefit six charities (the Children’s Defense Fund, The Global Fund, Make It Right, Malaria No More, Save The Children and the Children’s Health Fund). Fox scored more than a 4-rating point advantage over second-place CBS. NBC was third, followed by ABC and the CW.

Finally, “30 Rock” returns Thursday, with an episode that’s a hilarious sendup of “Survivor” and other reality shows. It comes with the usual spot-on satire of product placements and all things television. The title of the episode, however, must have slipped by Standards & Practices.

“MILF Island,”

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the make-believe reality show that runs on screens at the NBC headquarters throughout the half-hour, is based on a foul acronym that first entered the vernacular via the “American Pie” movies. It stands for “mothers I’d like to —-.” (We can’t even write that in the Post blogosphere.)

The conceit is that Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) is asked to create a spinoff of that reality show, but she claims to have too much integrity to do so. Of course, she ends up doing worse things. Through it all, we see 8th grade boys oogling moms in bikinis, hear about contestants “eating bugs to earn tampons.” A confessional shower sponsored by a soap manufacturer. And so on.

including a right of first refusal to future cycles of the series, which The Weinstein Company unfortunately has refused to honor. NBC Universal regrettably had no alternative but to bring legal action to enforce its rights to this program, including the right to decide whether it is in the best interest of the company to continue to air the show under the proposed financial terms.”

This could be more fun than watching Tim Gunn dissolve in a fit of arrogance.

Joanne Ostrow has been watching TV since before "reality" required quotation marks. "Hill Street Blues" was life-changing. If Dickens, Twain or Agatha Christie were alive today, they'd be writing for television. And proud of it.